If you’re looking for a spritz biscuit for a treat, Verkade NoboSprits Original is a spritz biscuit, but it isn’t sugar-free: sugar is listed as an ingredient. If you’re mainly looking for a biscuit with no added sugars, Verkade San Francisco Zero is a different type of product: a biscuit which, according to Verkade, contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. For snacks that come around regularly during the school holidays, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists fruit and vegetables as options for children.
You’re looking for a biscuit-style holiday treat and want to know whether the packaging says ‘sugar-free’ or ‘no added sugars’. The amount of sugars shown in the nutrition table also matters when making your choice.
You’re deliberately choosing a spritz biscuit, even if it doesn’t meet your preference for less sugar. Verkade lists sugar as an ingredient in NoboSprits Original and states that it contains 24.2 g of sugars per 100 g.
You’re not looking for a biscuit for every snack break. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists fruit and vegetables as snack options.
First decide whether you want a spritz biscuit as a treat or something for regular snack breaks. For biscuits, compare the product type, the exact sugar claim and the nutritional information.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugars | Read the exact claim and compare the ‘of which sugars’ figures per 100 g. Check the ingredients list too. | If I’m looking for a biscuit-style treat with less added sugar, I don’t want to rely on a single prominent word on the front of the pack. For around 36% of consumers, this would be their main purchasing priority. |
| Regular snack breaks | Decide whether you want a biscuit for a treat or a snack option for several days, such as fruit or vegetables. | For consecutive days of the holidays, I want to be able to vary the snacks without choosing a biscuit every time. For around 29% of consumers, a snack for regular use would come first. |
| A proper spritz biscuit | Check that the product is actually a spritz biscuit and read the sugar information; a biscuit with ‘zero’ in its name is a different type of product. | I’m specifically looking for a familiar spritz biscuit as a treat and accept that my choice contains sugar. For an estimated 21% of consumers, the product type would be the deciding factor. |
| Convenience when shopping | Check the current range and product packaging when picking up an alternative to biscuits. | When I’m doing my usual food shop, I want to be able to choose a suitable alternative without deciding on a specific biscuit in advance. For around 14% of consumers, this would be the most important factor. |
These claims don’t mean the same thing. Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars, but also states that it contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
Compare the claim with the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition table, and read the ingredients list.
Verkade NoboSprits Original is a spritz biscuit, but it contains sugar as an ingredient and has 24.2 g of sugars per 100 g.
Before buying, decide whether the product type or your preference for less sugar matters more; a biscuit with no added sugars isn’t the same kind of biscuit.
A claim about added sugars alone doesn’t tell you how a biscuit fits into regular snack breaks. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also lists fruit and vegetables as snack options.
Choose a biscuit as a treat when you want one, and, if you wish, plan a different kind of snack for other occasions.
Wheat and milk are relevant allergens in the Verkade products mentioned; San Francisco Zero also lists soya.
If you have an allergy, check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you’re buying.
Verkade offers both NoboSprits Original and San Francisco Zero. This means you can consider a spritz biscuit and a biscuit with no added sugars as two different product types.
Albert Heijn lists Céréal biscuits in its range of products for people keeping an eye on sugar. If you’re not specifically looking for spritz biscuits, you can compare the exact product type and packaging there.
The online range of products for people keeping an eye on sugar can help you find alternatives to traditional spritz biscuits.
No, they’re different claims. Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars and states that it contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. So be sure to check both the exact claim and the nutrition table.
No. Verkade lists sugar as an ingredient and states that it contains 24.2 g of sugars per 100 g. It’s suitable if you’ve deliberately chosen a classic spritz biscuit, but not if you need a sugar-free one.
For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists fruit and vegetables among the snack options. If you also buy biscuits, distinguish between a regular snack break and a treat.
For NoboSprits Original, check for wheat and milk; for San Francisco Zero, check for soya as well. If you have an allergy, always check the current packaging for the variety you’ve chosen.
